Refrigerator



Nov. 8,1932.

R. T.'S MITH- 1,886,601 I REFRIGERATOR Filed June 26. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR AJMQ;

ATTORNEY Nqv 8, 1932. R. 1'. SMITH 1,886,601 REFRIGERATOR Filed. June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AINVENTOR R. T. SMITH REFRIGERATOR Nov. 8, 1932 Filed June 26. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1932. R. T. SMITH 1,886,601

REFR IGERATOR Filed June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUSSELL T. SMITH, OF GREENVILLE,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GIBSON REFRIGERATOR COMPANY, OF GBEENVILLE, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN REFRIGERATOR Application filed June 26, 1931. Serial No. 547,160.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and more particularly to systems of the so-called closed type, wherein the refrigerating fluid, as it travels from the compressor outlet thru the condenser, float valve and evaporator to the compressor inlet carries en'- trained therewith a quantum of lubricating oil for the compressor.

An object of this invention is a novel system of the class above described.

A further object is a novel form of connection between an evaporator and the inlet side of a compressor disposed above the evaporator. 1

Still further objects will readily occur to 1 those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the parts of the system as a whole.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a compressor.

Fig; 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section as if on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator cabinet 10 having a removable top board 12 which forms an insulating the working parts of the refrigerator, and a partition between the insulated cabinet and the uninsulated top compartment 14 in which certain of the working parts of the refrigerator are housed.

scribed in the application of Russell T.

top 30 and closure for the cabinet, a mounting for Smith for refrigerator construction, Ser. N 0. 522,797, filed March 16, 1931. The compressor itself is more clearly shown and described in the application of Russell T. Smith et al., for compressors, Ser. No. 532,252, filed April 15, 1931. The float valve per se is more clearly shown and described'in the application of GurtisM. Brown for float valves, Ser.

No. 519,395, filed March 2, 1931.

The various parts of the system will now be described in detail in so far as they relate to the system as a whole.

The compressor26, which is coaxial with the motor 20 and whose shaft 40, Fig. 2, is connected with the motor shaft, is provided with an inlet 42 and an outlet 44. The refrigerant and the entrained lubricating oil enter the compressor thru the inlet 42 and then go thru the drilled passages 46 and grooves 48 to the interior of the compressor. In view of the small diameter of the drill holes 46 and the grooves 48, a portion of the oil entrained with the refrigerant is separated at these points and drops into the crank case 50 of the compressor, it being there splashed about, for lubricating purposes, by the scoop or dipper 52. Some of the oil which entered the compressor thru the inlet 42, however, is carried alongwith the refrigerant thru passages 54' and 56 to the transverse passage 58 from where it enters the bores 6.0 of the compressor thru the slots 62.

The refrigerant is compressed in these bores by the pistons 64 and in its compressed state and with the entrained oil passes thru the discharge valve ports 66 and into the transverse passage 68 in the compressor casing wall.

The latter is connected to the outlet 44 and provides means by which the compressed refrigerant, together with the entrained oil may emerge from the compressor.

The compressed refrigerant together with the entrained oil is then conducted to the condenser 30 from the outlet 44 by an inclined tube 69 which at its lower end is connected to the outlet 42 and at its upper end to the uper end of the air cooled condenser. The re- Irigerant is cooled and liquefied in the condenser in the well known manner.

The liquefied refrigerant passes from the lower end of the condenser thru a pipe 68 into the upper part 70 0f the float valve 28, passing therethru and emerging from the lower end of the valve 28, then flowing thru a pipe 72 into the evaporator.

The evaporator, which is disposed below the mounting board 12 and is secured thereby by suitable means, includes a shell 80 having in its head 82 two apertures thru the upper one of which passes the outlet end of the pipe 72. Thru the lower one of these passages enters a pipe or tube 86 which is provided with a U bend of one or more turns 88, outside of the evaporator and which is connected at its upper end 90 to the inlet 42 of the compressor. The pipe 86, inside the evaporator, terminates in an upstanding portion 94 having a beveled end 96 and a minute aperture 98 in its side wall. An evaporator so constructed enables oil to be drawn off from the refrigerator and returned to the compressor while a level of refrigerant is maintained within the evaporator.

It will, of course, be understood that the normal refrigerantlevel in the evaportor is slightly below the aperture '98 and that the oil floating on the liquid refrigerant is drawn off thru the minute aperture 98, the latter being out of contact with the liquid refrigerant. Gaseous refrigerant will collect in the upper part of the evaporator and will flow thru the pipe 86' entering the same thru the beveled entrance 96.

It will be observed that the mixture of oil, entered thru aperture 98, slugs of liquid refrigerant entered thru 96 and 98, and the vaporized refrigerant, entered thru 96, will pass along in the pipe 86 coming to the turn or bend 88 whereupon the oil will collect in the bottom of the bend, closing the passage thru the pipe. Refrigerant vapor, under pressure, will force some of the oil in the bend 88 out of the latter and further into the pipe 86, and, with the assistance of suction from inlet 42, will cause vapor and drops of the lubricating oil to pass thru the pipe 86 to the inlet, whereupon the action previously described, is repeated.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth, but only by thescope of the claim which follows:

What I claim is:

In a refrigerator having a mounting board with a motor, compressor and condenser above and secured to said board, and an evaporator below and secured to said board,

tion.

RUSSELL T. SMITH. 

